The SNP has accused the UK Government of investing in “the energy of the past” after plans for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point got the green light.
Aberdeen South MP Callum McCaig condemned the project as “possibly the biggest single most expensive object in history”.
Calling it a “gamble”, he also questioned what energy source would fill the gap in the event the plant is delayed coming online.
The UK Government confirmed yesterday the £18billion project will move forward following a “new agreement” with French energy giant EDF.
Ministers stressed they had imposed “significant new safeguards” for future foreign investment in critical infrastructure.
Chinese state-owned company CGN, which has a third stake in the scheme, said it was “delighted” with the decision.
Mr McCaig, who is his party’s energy spokesman, said despite the improvements, the deal remained a “rotten one”, claiming it would cost the billpayer £30billion.
But he added: “What really concerns me is the opportunity costs that we have here. We could spend this money better. We could use our expertise better.”
Instead of foreign ownership, investment and profit, he advocated developing “home grown industries”, such as carbon capture and storage, solar and offshore wind.
“Can I ask you to invest in the energy of the future rather than the energy of the past?” he concluded.
Energy Secretary Greg Clark urged the SNP to keep their “crystal balls” to themselves, “given its record of energy forecasting in recent months”.
The Tory minister added: “I’m confused by your party’s position on this. The SNP has stood on a platform of a nuclear free Scotland, but it seems to be with their fingers crossed behind their
back.”
He said the party was happy to rely on the two nuclear plants functioning in Scotland – Torness and Hunterston B – that are producing low carbon electricity.
And he described Mr McCaig as “wrong” to say this would be at the expense of other opportunities in the UK, adding: “It doesn’t burden the balance sheet.
“The UK balance sheet remains able to support other investments”.
Earlier, former first minister Alex Salmond said there should be a vote on the project so those MPs supporting it could be “named and shamed”.
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